How to Contribute to Perl+Science

Hello Monks,
After only some minor experience solving Bio Informatics problems using perl, I was wondering how I could contribute to Bio Informatics or science in general with perl.
Aside from giving a talk about perl and BioInformatics at my local perlmonger's, I am still eager to contribute. I have written small modules that export subs to do basic things like translate RNA strings to protein.
However, I have not released these to CPAN because CPAN has BioPerl- which may do these things already. From the view of a new comer, BioPerl is a little difficult to work with. I do thoroughly enjoy solving BioInformatics problems with perl- I also have an interest in Astronomy.
Any insight is greatly appreciated :)

Comment on How to Contribute to Perl+Science

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: How to Contribute to Perl+Science by pvaldes (Chaplain) on Oct 14, 2014 at 20:30 UTC
You could improve the bioperl documentation... (If you like astronomy take a look to PDL). An example here: Tracking magnetic fields of the sun).	[reply]
Re^2: How to Contribute to Perl+Science by PerlSufi (Friar) on Oct 15, 2014 at 14:01 UTC
Awesome, thanks for the project suggestion on astronomy. I think I had heard about PDL a while back and just forgot about it.	[reply]
Re: How to Contribute to Perl+Science by marto (Cardinal) on Oct 15, 2014 at 08:29 UTC
Perhaps get involed over at https://github.com/bioperl, patch open bugs or work on tickets/requests.	[reply]
Re^2: How to Contribute to Perl+Science by PerlSufi (Friar) on Oct 17, 2014 at 13:15 UTC
Good call on looking for tickets to work - I'll definitely look in to that.	[reply]
Re: How to Contribute to Perl+Science by Anonymous Monk on Oct 14, 2014 at 19:45 UTC
Code is good, but it's not the only thing needed for success. It sounds like you're aware of the problem of reinventing the wheel. Maybe existing modules have functionality gaps that you could fill? If you're not happy with existing modules' usability, then perhaps suggest small additions (patches) to the API that could help? Or improve the documentation, or provide tutorials?	[reply]
Re: How to Contribute to Perl+Science by erix (Prior) on Oct 17, 2014 at 13:27 UTC
Contact a university (possibly in the neighbourhood, always good to get to know people) and offer help, in exchange for the domain knowledge. Don't underestimate the latter; the biology that feeds the bioinformatics field is hugely diverse, and I think the main problem is often to have people who understand the biology and the molecular biology techniques and know some programming (and can mix them creatively).	[reply]
Re^2: How to Contribute to Perl+Science by PerlSufi (Friar) on Oct 17, 2014 at 14:29 UTC
Thanks, erix. That certainly seems like the most hands-on and direct approach. At this point, I simply 'know some programming', but I have not been formally trained in the other areas such as molecular biology- so it may be hard to know what exactly is desired without actually talking to someone working with it.	[reply]


Think about Loose Coupling
	PerlMonks